Article handling means



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ARTICLE HANDLING MEANS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY 1"2S, 1941. c. L Lol-:NER E11-A1.. 2335103 ARTICLE HANDLING MEANS FiledJan. 2, 1940 L Sheets-Sheet 2 Cdr] L .laner cmd Alndfew S/drzdrzoz/INVENTOR A TTES T BY 73M f ATTORNEY 25, 194%. Cf L- LQHNER ETAL ARTICLEHANDLING MEANS Filed Jan. 2. 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Mardi 25,194i.. L, LQHNER ETAL l 2,236,103

ARTICLE HANDLING MEANS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mmm @arl.obzef and y ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES Zidi ARTICLEHANDLING MEANS Carl L. Lehner and Andre Ill.,` assignors to IndustChicago, Ill., a corpora w S. Hartanov, Chicago,

rial Patents Corporation, tion of Delaware Application January 2, 1940,Serial No. 312,165

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved article handling means.

By way of illustration but not by way of limitation, the invention willbe described in the 5` handling of whole sides of meat carcasses,particularly beef carcasses.

According to conventional abattoir practice, the split half or wholeside of a freshly killed beef carcass is vertically hung, that is, it issuspendi0 ed at its hind leg and from an overhead trolley,

within a refrigeration chamber, whence it is thoroughly chilled and somaintained until being routed to the consumer trade.

Beef sides that are shipped to distant points are ribbed or quartered tofacilitate their handling and because of necessity due to the height ofthe conventional refrigerator car. Such handling brings aboutconsiderable loss to the packer because of trimming by reason ofdesiccation and discoloration, adjacent the cut surfaces of the ribbedsides.

It is possible to ship whole sides in conventional refrigerator cars byhandling on specially prepared racks placed transversely of the re- 'vfrigerator cars. The transfer of the beef sides from the trolley hangerto the racks to be handled horizontally, however, is fraught withdifficulty. In the first place, the sides, due to their weight andshape, are difficult to handle and in the second place, the backbone iseasily broken with the result, the side brings a lower price inwholesale market.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the inven- 35 tion is to provide animproved means for transferring the vertically suspended article ontothe horizontal support.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description andclaims which follow.

40 The use of the device of the present invention involves verticallyraising the horizontal support adjacent one side surface of thevertically suspended article, transferring suspension of the arm ticleto the support and thereafter, substantially pivotally lowering thesupport with the supported article thereon to a horizontal position.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is had tothe accompanying 1, drawings in which like characters of reference areused to designate similar elements.

Figure 1 is a side sectional view showing one end of a refrigerator carequipped for mounting horizontally a, supporting means with a beef car-:33 cass side thereon.

vof the article handling means shown in Figure 5. 10

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are `side views showing a modified form of thearticle handling means of the present invention.

Figure 1l is a plan view of Figure l0.

Figure 12 is an enlarged plan view, partly brol5 ken away, showing thesupporting platform.

Figure 13 is an end view of the platform shown in Figure 12.

The refrigerator car shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises conventional endwalls I, side walls 2 20 provided with side openings 3, bottom d, top 5and end ice bunkers 6. vertically spaced trolley rails 1 are rigidlysecured as by brackets I? in corresponding relationship against oppositeside walls 2. Rail portions 'I traversing openings .i 25 are removable.

Platform 9, shown in detail in Figures 12 and 13, comprises a series ofspaced beams Ill rigidly secured as a unit, as by cross members II, andmounted at each of its ends on swivel rollers I2. 30 Platforms 9 areadapted for horizontal mounting within the refrigerator car in themanner shown in dotted lines in` Figure 2, in which it is seen thatrollers I2 engage trolley rails 'I and provide roller movement ofplatforms 9 between 35 openings 3 and the ends of the car.

Figures 3 and 5 show a conventional overhead trolley rail I3 and trolleyhanger Hl from` which is suspended a whole side I5 o-f a beef carcass.According to the invention, the supporting sur- 40 face of platform 9 israised to a vertical position relative to the bone side of side I5whence the suspension of side I5 is transferred relative to platform 9and thereafter platform 9 with side I5 supported thereon is lowered to ahorizontal 45 position.

As shown in Figure 3, platform il is slidably inserted within void I6 inthe surface II of rack I8. Platform 9 is xedly supported within void I6and between the ends of rack I8 as by angle 50 brackets I9 rigidlysecured adjacent the ends of void I6. Rack I8 is pivoted, as at Ell, touprights 2| rigidly secured in any suitable manner to floor 22. Rack I8adjacent its free end 23 is provided. with lateral guide posts orrollers 2li slid- 55 able within grooved tracks 25. Tracks 25 arecircular and are rigidly secured concentrically with pivot 20. Tracks 25are rigidly affixed at their base ends as by angle brackets 26 rigidlyaffixed in any suitable manner to oor 22 and at their raised ends, as byangle brackets 21, against ceiling 35.

As shown in Figure 5, rail I3 within the area of rack I8 is providedwith void 28 in which may be fitted, trolley rail segment 29, which isrigidly afrlxed, as by arm 30, adjacent the free end of the supportingsurface of rack I8. Lifting cable 3l controlled by lifting means 32travels over pulley 33 and is rigidly secured to the free end of rackI8, as at 34. Pulley 33 is suspended from ceiling 35 as by bracket 36.

Rack I8 normally is in a horizontal position. Upon suitable power from asource not shown being applied to lifting means 32 and through themedium of cable 3|, rack I8 with platform 9 inserted therein is pivotedas at 28 to a vertical position as shown in Figure 3. In this position,trolley segment 29 is automatically fitted within void 28 of trolleyrail I3. Through the medium of latches 31, rack I8 is temporarily,automatically locked in a vertical position. Latches 31 are bolted orotherwise rigidly secured against trolley rail I3 and to either side ofvoid 28.

With rack I8 and platform 9 locked in a vertical position, beef side I5through the medium of trolley hanger I4 may then be rolled onward ontrolley track I3 onto trolley segment 29 whence roller 38 of trolleyhanger I4 will seat within depression 39 provided in the trolley edge oftrolley segment 29. At this point, beef side I5 is immediately adjacentthe supporting surface of platform 9 and if desired, may be furtherflxedly secured to platform 9, as by passing strap 40 therearound.

Rack I8 now supporting platform 9 together with beef side I5, is readyto be lowered to a horizontal position. This is accomplished by releaseof latches 31 and normal gravity movement of rack I8. To this end,lifting means 32 should be provided with suitable drag means tocompensate for the load weight of rack I8. Following lowering of rack I8with platform 9 and beef side I5 thereon, trolley hanger I4 may then beeasily removed first from the rail segment 29 and thence from the hindleg portion of side I5. Thereafter, platform 9 with beef side I5 thereonmay be rolled sidewise from rack I8 onto aligned tracks 4I, thence ontotracks 42 and into the refrigerator car as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Within the refrigerator car, conventional block and fall hoist 43,fixedly attached to ceiling 44, may be used for lifting platform 9 withits supported beef side I5 relative to the desired trolley rails 1,whence it may be pushed rearwardly into the car.

In the modified form of the article handling means illustrated inFigures -7 to 11, inclusive, rack I8` is provided at onev end withforwardly extended rollers and at its opposite end with rollers 55,lifting eye t1 and suspension means 48. Suspension means 48 comprisesbracket 49 rigidly secured to rack I8, chain and hook 5I. In the use ofthis form of the invention, rack I8 is raised to a vertical position asby lifting means 52 through the medium of cable 53 rign idly securedwithin lifting eye 41. Lifting means 52 is mounted as by roller 54 ontotrolley rail directly above trolley rail I3. Following raising of rackI8 relative to the bone surface of beef side I5, hook 5I is insertedwithin the hind leg of beef side I5 and thereafter, suspension of beefside I5 is manually transferred from trolley hanger I4 to suspensionmeans 48. Rack I8 together with platform 9 and beef side I5 then islowered to a horizontal position in the manner shown in Figures 8, 9 and10, whence hook 5I may be removed from the hind leg of carcass I5.Thereafter, platform 9 together with the beef side supported thereon maybe removed from rack I8 for horizontal handling in any suitable manner.

We claim:

1. In combination with means for vertically suspending an article,transfer means comprising a truck providing a supporting surface andmounted upon trolley wheels, a rack adapted to iixedly mount the truck,the rack at one end being provided with surface engageable means and atits opposite end with a lifting means, the lifting means being operablein one movement to pivot the rack and truck mounted thereon from ahorizontal position to a vertical position whereby the supportingsurface of the truck and one surface of the suspended article may bebrought adjacent one another and suspension oi the suspended articletransferred to the truck surface, and in a second movement to pivot therack and mounted truck and article from their vertical position to ahorizontal position whereby upon release of the truck from the rack thearticle may be handled horizontally thereon.

2. In combination with means for vertically suspending an article,transfer means comprising a platform providing a supporting surface, arack provided with means for fixedly mounting the platform, between itsends, the rack at one end being pivoted to a fixed surface and at itsfree end provided with lifting means, the lifting means being operablein one movement to pivot the rack and platform mounted thereon from ahorizontal position to a vertical position whereby the supportingsurface of the platform and one surface of the suspended article may bebrought adjacent one another and suspension of the article transferredto the platform surface, and in a second movement to pivot the rack andmounted platform and article from their vertical position to ahorizontal position whereby upon release of the platform from the rackthe article may be handled horizontally thereon.

3. In combination with means for vertically suspending an article,transfer means comprising a platform providing a supporting surface, arack provided with means for xedly mounting the platform between itsends, the rack at one end being pivoted to a fixed surface and at itsfree end provided with lifting means, lateral guide means adjacent thefree end of the rack and circular guide railsy concentric with the rackpivot and mounting the lateral guide rmeans, the vertical suspensionmeans being operable in one movement to pivot the rack and platformmounted thereon from a horizontal position to a vertical positionWhereby the supporting surface and one surface of the suspended articlemay be brought adjacent one another and suspension of the suspendedarticle transferred to the platform surface and in a second movement topivot the rack and mounted platform and article from their verticalposition to a horizontal position whereby upon release of the platformfrom the rack the article may be handled horizontally thereon.

44i. In combination with an overhead trolley rail having an intermediatevoid and a trolley hanger thereon, transfer means comprising a truckmounted upon trolley wheels and providing a supporting surface, a rackprovided with means for xedly mounting the truck intermediate its ends,the rack at one end being pivoted to a fixed surface for pivotalmovement vertically relative to the rail, and at its free end providedwith lifting means, lateral guide means adjacent the free end of therack, circular guide rails concentric with the rack pivot and mountingthe lateral guide means, and a trolley segment rigidly secured adjacentthe free end and transversely of the rack, the trolley segment beingadapted to fit within the void of the trolley rail and to form acontinuous rail therewith.

5. In combination with an overhead trolley rail having an intermediatevoid and a trolley hanger thereon, transfer means comprising a truckmounted upon trolley wheels yand providing a supporting surface, a rackprovided with means for iixedly mounting the truck intermediate itsends, the rack at one end being pivoted to a fixed surface for pivotalmovement vertically relative to the rail, and at its free end providedwith lifting means, lateral guide means adjacent the free end of therack., circular guide rails concentric with the rack pivot and mountingthe lateral guide means, a trolley segment rigidly secured adjacent thefree end` and transversely of the rack, the trolley segment beingadapted to nt within the void of the trolley rail and to form acontinuous rail therewith for transfer of the trolley hanger and asupported article from the trolley rail to the trolley segment, the|trolleyl segment being provided with a depression in its trolley edge towithhold movement of the trolley hanger thereon.

6. In combination with an overhead trolley rail having an intermediatevoid and a trolley hanger thereon, transfer means comprising a truckmounted upon trolley Wheels and providing a supporting surface, a rackprovided with means for Xedly mounting the truck intermediate its ends,the rack at one end being pivoted to a fixed surface for pivotalmovement vertically relative to the rail, and at its free end providedwith lifting means, lateral guide means adjacent the free end of therack, circular guide rails concentric with the rack pivot and mountingthe lateral guide means, and a trolley segment rigidly secured adjacentthe free end and transversely of the rack, the trolley segment beingadapted to nt within the void of the 4trolley rail and to form acontinuous rail therewith for transfer of the trolley hanger and a.supported article from the supported rail to the trolley segment, andlatch means rigidly secured to the trolley rail and to either side ofthe trolley void for xedly securing the trolley segment rail duringtransfer of the trolley hanger and supported hanger from the trolleyrelative to the trolley segment.

'7. In combination with an overhead trolley rail having an intermediatevoid and a trolley hanger thereon, transfer means comprising a truckmounted upon trolley Wheels and providing a supporting surface, a rackprovided With means for xedly mounting the truck intermediate its ends,the rack at one end being pivoted to a fixed surface for pivotalmovement vertically relative to the rail, and at its free end providedwith lifting means, lateral guide means adjacent the free end of therack, circular guideI rails concentric with the rack pivot and mountingthe lateral guide means, and a trolley segment rigidly secured adjacentthe free end and transversely of the rack, the trolley segment beingadapted to fit within the void of the trolley rail and to form acontinuous rail therewith for transfer of the trolley hanger and asupported article from the supported rail to the trolley segment, latchmeans rigidly secured to the trolley rail and to either side of thetrolley void for ixedly securing the trolley segment rail duringtransfer of the trolley hanger and supported hanger from the trolleyrelative to the trolley segment, and a depression in the trolley edge ofthe trolley segment withholding movement of the trolley hanger thereon.

8. In combination with means for vertically suspending an article,transfer means comprising a platform, a rack provided with means formounting the platform between its ends and adjacent one surface thereofrollers supporting the opposite surface of the rack, the roller at oneend of the rack being extended forwardly of the rack, the rack at itsopposite end being provided with a lifting means and adjacent the sameend being provided with hanger means for suspending an article againstthe supporting surface of the platform mounted on the rack, the liftingmeans in one movement being operable to vertically raise the rack andplatform mounted thereon whereby the supporting surface of the platformand one surface of the suspended article m-ay be brought adjacent oneanother and suspension of the article transferred to the platformsurface and in the second movement to lower the rack and supportedplatform and article to a horizontal position for release of theplatform and article from the rack.

CARL L. LOI-INEE. ANDREW S. HARTANOV.

